Tropical Queensland Museum's "Creative Reef Installation" is not a part of our Satellite Reef program. The Museum is well aware of the IFF's Crochet Coral Reef project and has knowingly launched its own version of the project. The Museum's disregard of the IFF goes against the fundamental ethos and lesson of the CCR: namely, that we humans can learn from networks of coral how to be responsible to one another by co-operating to form a colony which becomes stronger, healthier, and more sustainable through connection and mutual nourishment.

Satellite Reef – UK

Following the hugely successful exhibition of the IFF Hyperbolic Crochet Coral Reef project at The Hayward gallery in London during summer 2008, the UK Reef is going on tour around Great Britain.

The IFF is pleased to announce that following the success of the Hyperbolic Crochet Coral Reef at The Hayward, the UK Reef is going on tour to four British cities. More than 100 people around the UK and Ireland contributed crochet models to this unique production, which had its debut showing at the Southbank Center during summer 2008. The UK Reef is the latest of the IFF's sister-city reefs, following the creation of other siblings in Chicago and New York. During its 2008 Fall tour this British marvel will visit Birmingham, London, Dublin and Harrogate.

The UK Reef (detail) - with anemones made from plastic-bag yarn by Lucinda Ganderton. Photo by Vincent Dachy for the IFF.

The UK Reef was constructed under the auspices of a generous grant from The Craft Council, who in early 2008 committed resources for the exhibition at The Hayward and for the production of a local reef. In March 2008 the process began with IFF director Margaret Wertheim presenting crochet reef workshops at the Southbank Center. From there reefers fanned out across the UK. Over the next six months workshops were held at the Southbank Center and at yarns stores in London and other cities. Crochet pieces poured in from London, Liverpool, Peterborough, Dublin, Bangor, and many other cities.

UK Reef Contributors

Below is a complete list of all the contributors to the UK Reef. Thank you to each of them!

The UK Reef showing in Birmingham, September 2008. Photo by Denise Quinn.

A special feature of the UK Reef is its unique mounting. Here, hundreds of individual hyperbolic crochet coral pieces have been attached to giant "reef balls" that simulate the actual reef balls installed under the sea to help regenerate living reefs that have been devastated by environmental stresses such as global warming, pollutants and overfishing. This innovative exhibition mode was designed by the Southbank's participation co-ordinator Cathy Woolley, who worked with local London artists to realize the vision. Below is a picture of the largest UK Reef reef ball installed at the Southbank Center. This giant wonder is more than six feet high. Most of the pieces here have been crocheted from discarded plastic, especially from yarn made by cutting up plastic shopping bags.

The UK Reef, primary "reef ball". On top are a collection of anemone forms made from plastic-bag yarn by Lucinda Ganderton, Beverly Griffiths and Rosy Sykes. The orange comes from Sainsbury's and Okada bags; the lime green is from Marks and Spencers. Thee lime green forms here are made by Liverpool Contributor Ildiko Szabo. Photo by Margaret Wertheim for the IFF.

Each of the half dozen reef balls has its own unique character and colour scheme. Below are images from the blue-green ball and the yellow ball. The collection also includes a red ball, a white ball, and the largest reef ball, which is constructed primarily from plastic-bag string and other plastic threads such a packing tape, video tape and strapping. Each individual piece may take up to dozens of hours to create and the totality of labour here constitutes many thousands of hours.

Two closeup details of the UK Reef photographed in Birmingham by Denise Quinn.

During both The Hayward exhibition and the touring shows, workshops are conducted to teach local citizens the techniques of hyperbolic crochet. This technique was invented by mathematician Dr Daina Taimina and has been adapted by the IFF and our contributors around the world to create an ever-expanding range of reef-like models. Corals, kelps, sponges and nudibranchs have all been successfully simulated using these crafty craft techniques. More information about these techniques can be seen at the IFF website here. (This online exhibit also features an introduction to the subject of hyperbolic space, which is the geometry that underlies many coral reef organisms.)

Reef installer Sarah Noble teaches visitors to the Birmingham exhibition how to make hyperbolic crochet corals.

The Crochet Coral Reef is a project of the Institute For Figuring (IFF). All texts and photographs on this site are copyright the IFF and may not be used without permission. If you want to start a Satellite Reef of your own; exhibit a Satellite Reef in any public venue; re-print or re-publish any of these materials; or incorporate the CCR project into any kind of educational curriculum package you must seek permission from the IFF. Unauthorized use is strictly forbidden.